Computer-aided system for 360 degree heads up display of safety/mission critical data

Abstract

A safety critical, time sensitive data system for projecting safety/mission critical data onto a display pair of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) light weight projection glasses or monocular creating a virtual 360° HUD (Heads Up Display) with 6 degrees of freedom movement. The system includes the display, the workstation, the application software, and inputs containing the safety/mission critical information (Current User Position, Total Collision Avoidance System—TCAS, Global Positioning System—GPS, Magnetic Resonance Imaging—MRI Images, CAT scan images, Weather data, Military troop data, real-time space type markings etc.). The workstation software processes the incoming safety/mission critical data and converts it into a three dimensional space for the user to view. Selecting any of the images may display available information about the selected item or may enhance the image. Predicted position vectors may be displayed as well as 3D terrain.

1 . A process for medical imaging comprising the steps of
 a. providing non-invasive patient data derived from technology selected from the group comprising magnetic resonance imagery, X-ray, CAT scan, and sonogram;   b. providing COTS lightweight projection glasses;   c. transforming said patient data into images; and   d. transforming said images into three dimensional orthogonal space on said COTS lightweight projection glasses.   
     
     
         2 . A process for medical imaging comprising the steps of
 a. providing a surgical probe with imaging capabilities;   b. inserting said surgical probe into a patient;   c. collecting patient data with said imaging capabilities;   d. providing COTS lightweight projection glasses;   e. transforming said patient data into images; and   f. transforming said images into three dimensional orthogonal space on said COTS lightweight projection glasses.   
     
     
         3 . A process of navigating in three dimensional space comprising the steps of
 a. providing a database;   b. providing at least one sensor;   c. providing a controller;   d. providing an augmented reality display means;   e. providing networking means connecting said database, said at least one sensor, said controller, and said augmented reality display means; and   f. presenting data from said database, said at least one sensor, said controller, and said augmented reality display means to a user.   
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said user operates a vehicle; said database, said at least one sensor, and said controller are aboard said vehicle; said user wears said augmented reality display means; and said augmented reality display means presents an augmented see through display. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said user operates a vehicle; said networking means has broadband communication means; said augmented reality display means presents an augmented see through display; and said controller uses data from said sensor continually to update said database and said augmented see through display. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said networking means has broadband communication means and can communicate with a plurality of remote stations; said augmented reality display means presents an augmented see through display; said controller can assess data from said database and said sensor to determine attributes of objects in said three dimensional space; said attributes are selected from the group comprising threat, distance, velocity, size, position, price, address, depth, heading, time, identity, and resource availability; and said controller projects said attributes onto said augmented reality display means. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said augmented reality display means presents an augmented see through display; said controller uses data from said sensor continually to update said database and said augmented see through display; said controller can assess data from said database and said sensor to determine attributes of objects in said three dimensional space; said attributes are selected from the group comprising threat, distance, velocity, size, position, price, address, depth, heading, time, identity, and resource availability; and said controller projects said attributes onto said augmented reality display means. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7  further comprising the step of providing a user input means; said user operates a vehicle; and said attributes are displayed to said user in response to signals from said user input means. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said attributes are displayed so that said user can perceive said objects in real time in three dimensional space even if line of sight to said objects in three dimensional space is occluded; and said user input means comprises data obtained through said sensor and selected from the group comprising eye orientation, head orientation, voice command, and push button. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 7  wherein said attributes are displayed so that said user can perceive said objects in three dimensional space even if line of sight to said objects in three dimensional space is occluded. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors selected from the group comprising radar, orientation sensors, visible spectrum cameras, infrared cameras, microphones, transceivers, clocks, thumb position sensors, computer mouses, pointing sensors, global positioning system transponders, MRI, CAT scan, fuel sensors, speedometer, thermometer, depth sensor, pressure sensor, X-ray, sonogram, and wind sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors mounted on a platform selected from the group comprising a satellite, a vehicle operated by said user, a beacon, an air traffic control tower, a military control center, a display means worn by said user, and a vehicle not operated by said user. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said database contains data that can be updated by means selected from the group comprising said at least one sensor, known data sources, neural network, fuzzy logic, time based decaying weights, assigned paths, official chart data, and plans.